The current Premier League table, as of October 26th, reads how most would have expected at this stage of the season, as we approach a quarter of the way through the year. As many would have predicted, Manchester City sit at the top, with 7 wins and 2 draws through their 9 games. Liverpool, flying under new manager Arne Slot are second, albeit with a game in hand on the Cityzens, whilst Aston Villa and Arsenal round out the top 4. It is the same 4 clubs who qualified for Europe’s elite competition last term occupying the qualification spots so far, with Brighton and Hove Albion sitting just point behind the Gunners after a strong summer window.
However, the team currently lying in 6th have been the shock of the season so far. Prior to the season beginning, many had tipped Nuno Espirito Santo’s Nottingham Forest to be fighting at the bottom of the league, involved in a relegation scrap for yet another season. However, Nuno’s boys have been a revelation, finding themselves flying high in sixth, after an excellent start to the new campaign, conceding only 7 goals, a record that is only bettered by Slot’s Liverpool.
The main reason for this success? Nuno Espirito Santo.
Nuno was appointed in December of last year, after his predecessor, Steve Cooper was relieved of his duties after only 1 win in Forest’s last 13 games, which had them 17th in the division. Forest moved quickly to appoint Nuno, who had only recently been fired from his job at Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad, marking the Portuguese manager’s return to English football, 2 years on from his disastrous stint at Tottenham Hotspur.
Nuno started to turn things around immediately, ending Forest’s winless run in only his second game, a 3-1 away win over Newcastle, where Chris Wood scored a hat trick to take the 3 points back to the East Midlands. Despite the results and performances improving under Espirito Santo, Forest still struggled to escape the basement, and finished 17th in the division, narrowly escaping relegation after Luton Town were unable to catch their points tally. Forest survived with 32 points, the lowest tally ever for a club to avoid the drop, however, Forest were also lumbered with a 4 point deduction that made their job harder. Without it, Forest would have been safe earlier than the penultimate weekend.
Keeping Forest up was seen as a success for Nuno and, with a pre-season to make the squad his own, Nuno got to work.
Forest spent around £70 million reinforcing their squad in the summer, as well as seeing the departure of some pretty key players.
Firstly, in incomings, Elliot Anderson arrived for £35 million from Newcastle, with Greek goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos travelling in the opposite direction, business that was seen by most people as helping both clubs to comply with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules, which both have struggled with in the last two seasons. However, Anderson has proven himself to be an excellent acquisition for Forest so far this season, starting every game so far except the season opener against Bournemouth, where Brazilian Danilo suffered a very serious leg injury only 8 minutes in. This seems to have benefitted Anderson, who has started every Premier League game since, contributing 2 assists and a string of stellar performances, playing in a variety of different roles. Anderson has proven to be worth his transfer fee, and is one of the reasons for Forest’s ascent up the Premier League table.
Another important signing has been the acquisition of Serbian defender Nikola Milenkovic, who made the jump to the City Ground after several very solid seasons at Fiorentina. The Serbian, who played in all three games of Serbia’s Euro 2024 campaign has established himself as a rock solid centre half, contributing to Forest’s excellent defensive record so far. Despite not being the most elegant on the ball, Milenkovic has forged an excellent partnership with Murillo; the Brazilian, who is far more accomplished with the ball at his feet than the Serbian helps Forest build up out of the back, whilst Milenkovic primarily keeps the ball away from the Forest net, which he has done superbly so far this season. Milenkovic has helped Forest to forget about the departure of Moussa Niakhate, who, despite a poor injury record in this country, was one of Forest’s best defenders when fit. Milenkovic has filled his role like a glove, and Niakhate’s departure has barely been felt.
Not only their new signings have stepped up massively though; Ryan Yates has been excellent in the centre of the park, his efforts resulting in his first goal of the season on Friday against Leicester, a game where Forest should have won by more. His partners in midfield have varied; Ibrahim Sangare played the first 3 games before a knee injury ruled him out until December and, in his absence, Nicolas Dominguez has come in, helping to keep things tidy at the back, whilst Yates gets up and down the pitch.
Further back in the defence, Ola Aina has been virtually ever present for Forest this season, starting and finishing every game except the opener against Bournemouth. Aina, playing on the right side of defence, leads Forest in Interceptions, with 12 through their first 9 games, as well as 11 tackles, helping to keep Forest’s defence as tight as it has been all season.
But the story of Forest’s season so far has been Chris Wood; the Kiwi is 3rd in the goalscoring charts, trailing only Manchester City’s inevitable Norwegian, Erling Haaland, and Brentford’a Bryan Mbeumo, with 7 goals this term. Wood has been the man for Forest and Nuno’s side have been reaping the rewards. His 2 goals against Leicester helped to seal the win against the Foxes. An excellent finish on the turn into the bottom right corner opened his account for the game, whilst a looping header over goalkeeper Mads Hermansen arrived after pouncing on a mistake by Wout Faes capping off the Forest display in a game where they were utterly dominant. Wood has been in excellent form this season for Forest, and, with 7 of their 11 Premier League goals so far, it’s fair to say he’s been a pivotal player in Forest’s rise.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have been the surprise of the campaign so far, and, a date with struggling West Ham United next Saturday could mean that The Reds climb even higher in the table.
Leave a Reply